5 trades to help Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons finish their wall
By John Buhler
Zach Randolph
Power Forward, Memphis Grizzlies
If Drummond is the cornerstone of Van Gundy’s Wall, Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph is the concrete that can hold it all together. He has the bite of the barbed wire atop of the wall, but Randolph’s not a jumper, so he’s the substance that keeps it all together and forms the wall’s identity.
Together, Drummond and Randolph could be the reincarnation of the Bad Boy Pistons. Wouldn’t that be kind of what Van Gundy wants his wall to embody. Opposing teams will think twice about coming in the Pistons’ paint. A Drummond/Randolph frontcourt tandem is borderline frightening.
Spacing will be absolutely an issue, but that’s not what walls are about. They are about protecting the things we care the most about and keeping things out that don’t belong there. For the Pistons, they love that hoop and they don’t want to see basketballs going trough it. A Grit N’ Grind Grizzly is exactly what Van Gundy needs in his wall.
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Figuring out what Memphis head coach David Fizdale would want for Randolph would be tricky. He’s evolving the team towards a 3-and-D style, so maybe Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson, and filler would be enough to get Randolph out of Memphis. Keep in mind that Randolph is a Michigan native. He needs to be in this wall.